Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners (SOC 13-1121) earn a median $61,160 a year ($29.41 an hour) in the United States, with 142,860 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What meeting, convention, and event planners do
Meeting, convention, and event planners arrange the details of group gatherings such as meetings, conferences, and conventions. The job starts with consulting clients to learn the purpose, size, and requirements of the event. Planners then coordinate accommodations and transportation for participants, arrange meeting space, catering, signage, and audio-visual equipment, and confer with staff at the chosen site. They check event bills for accuracy and approve them for payment. Titles include conference manager and catering coordinator. The occupation differs from hotel and lodging managers, who run the venue, and from project management specialists, who coordinate nonevent work. It also differs from fundraisers, who organize events as one part of raising money. They also inspect event facilities to confirm they meet customer requirements, keep records including financial details, and monitor events for compliance with regulations and participant satisfaction.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a bachelor's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation.
Also called: Catering and Convention Services Manager, Catering Coordinator, Catering Director, Certified Meeting Professional, Conference Manager.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $17.71 | $22.58 | $29.41 | $37.88 | $48.90 | $31.98 | 142,860 |
| Annual | $36,830 | $46,970 | $61,160 | $78,790 | $101,700 | $66,520 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where meeting, convention, and event planners earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $25.64 | $29.11 | $37.01 | $45.05 | $58.37 | $38.29 | 2,360 | 3.36 | 3.66 |
| Annual | $53,320 | $60,550 | $76,970 | $93,700 | $121,410 | $79,640 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $23.54 | $28.06 | $36.42 | $47.18 | $64.41 | $39.29 | 4,640 | 1.28 | 1.39 |
| Annual | $48,960 | $58,360 | $75,740 | $98,140 | $133,980 | $81,710 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $21.92 | $27.53 | $35.93 | $47.68 | $62.49 | $39.81 | 10,330 | 1.07 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $45,600 | $57,260 | $74,730 | $99,160 | $129,980 | $82,800 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $19.11 | $24.85 | $35.80 | $40.52 | $47.38 | $34.54 | 550 | 0.88 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $39,760 | $51,690 | $74,460 | $84,290 | $98,560 | $71,830 | ||||
| Vermont | Hourly | $24.17 | $27.81 | $35.73 | $41.86 | $43.12 | $35.11 | 430 | 1.42 | 1.55 |
| Annual | $50,270 | $57,840 | $74,310 | $87,060 | $89,690 | $73,020 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $21.56 | $27.10 | $34.19 | $41.94 | $58.32 | $37.10 | 20,650 | 1.13 | 1.23 |
| Annual | $44,850 | $56,360 | $71,120 | $87,240 | $121,310 | $77,160 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $16.82 | $22.14 | $27.63 | $36.01 | $45.89 | $29.67 | 10,730 | 0.76 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $34,990 | $46,040 | $57,470 | $74,890 | $95,450 | $61,710 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $15.83 | $20.91 | $28.97 | $37.51 | $48.30 | $31.01 | 10,480 | 1.06 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $32,930 | $43,500 | $60,270 | $78,030 | $100,470 | $64,510 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $21.92 | $27.53 | $35.93 | $47.68 | $62.49 | $39.81 | 10,330 | 1.07 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $45,600 | $57,260 | $74,730 | $99,160 | $129,980 | $82,800 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $17.22 | $21.29 | $28.77 | $38.36 | $50.35 | $31.27 | 5,220 | 0.86 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $35,810 | $44,290 | $59,840 | $79,800 | $104,720 | $65,040 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $24.59 | $33.88 | $43.54 | $61.14 | $77.13 | $46.75 | 1,190 | 1.05 | 1.14 |
| Annual | $51,160 | $70,470 | $90,560 | $127,170 | $160,420 | $97,240 | ||||
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | Hourly | $22.16 | $33.65 | $40.69 | $46.51 | $61.10 | $40.86 | 130 | 1.82 | 1.98 |
| Annual | $46,090 | $69,990 | $84,640 | $96,740 | $127,090 | $85,000 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $25.89 | $32.13 | $39.48 | $48.98 | $67.42 | $43.38 | 3,490 | 1.47 | 1.60 |
| Annual | $53,840 | $66,820 | $82,120 | $101,880 | $140,230 | $90,230 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $23.48 | $29.90 | $37.79 | $49.35 | $63.92 | $41.95 | 9,050 | 0.95 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $48,840 | $62,180 | $78,610 | $102,660 | $132,960 | $87,260 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $24.35 | $29.28 | $37.51 | $48.79 | $65.13 | $40.37 | 3,650 | 1.35 | 1.47 |
| Annual | $50,640 | $60,900 | $78,010 | $101,490 | $135,470 | $83,970 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $23.48 | $29.90 | $37.79 | $49.35 | $63.92 | $41.95 | 9,050 | 0.95 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $48,840 | $62,180 | $78,610 | $102,660 | $132,960 | $87,260 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $20.73 | $25.92 | $33.10 | $39.65 | $51.37 | $35.59 | 7,300 | 1.16 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $43,120 | $53,900 | $68,850 | $82,480 | $106,860 | $74,020 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $23.36 | $28.76 | $36.27 | $45.54 | $57.33 | $37.80 | 5,140 | 1.64 | 1.78 |
| Annual | $48,580 | $59,810 | $75,450 | $94,710 | $119,250 | $78,620 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $17.22 | $22.05 | $30.12 | $38.80 | $53.56 | $32.21 | 4,230 | 0.94 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $35,820 | $45,870 | $62,640 | $80,700 | $111,390 | $66,990 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $24.35 | $29.28 | $37.51 | $48.79 | $65.13 | $40.37 | 3,650 | 1.35 | 1.47 |
| Annual | $50,640 | $60,900 | $78,010 | $101,490 | $135,470 | $83,970 | ||||
Top industries employing meeting, convention, and event planners
Other Support Services employ 6.9% of meeting, convention, and event planners nationally (9,900 jobs) at a median $63,850 a year ($30.70 an hour), followed by Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6.4%) and Traveler Accommodation (6.3%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Support Services NAICS 561900 | 9,900 | 6.9% | $63,850 | $30.70 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 9,190 | 6.4% | $61,810 | $29.72 |
| Traveler Accommodation NAICS 721100 | 9,030 | 6.3% | $63,280 | $30.42 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations NAICS 813900 | 7,880 | 5.5% | $67,490 | $32.45 |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events NAICS 711300 | 7,660 | 5.4% | $54,080 | $26.00 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (142,860). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $49,470 for meeting, convention, and event planners in May 2021 and $61,160 in May 2025, with employment of 98,150 and 142,860.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $49,470 | $23.79 | 98,150 |
| May 2022 | $52,560 | $25.27 | 112,070 |
| May 2023 | $56,920 | $27.36 | 122,130 |
| May 2024 | $59,440 | $28.58 | 134,670 |
| May 2025 | $61,160 | $29.41 | 142,860 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
50 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $37.01 | $76,970 | $53,320 | $121,410 | 2,360 | 3.36 | 3.66 |
| 2 | Massachusetts profile | $36.42 | $75,740 | $48,960 | $133,980 | 4,640 | 1.28 | 1.39 |
| 3 | New York profile | $35.93 | $74,730 | $45,600 | $129,980 | 10,330 | 1.07 | 1.16 |
| 4 | Hawaii profile | $35.80 | $74,460 | $39,760 | $98,560 | 550 | 0.88 | 0.96 |
| 5 | Vermont profile | $35.73 | $74,310 | $50,270 | $89,690 | 430 | 1.42 | 1.55 |
| 6 | New Jersey profile | $34.99 | $72,780 | $46,790 | $121,090 | 2,160 | 0.51 | 0.55 |
| 7 | California profile | $34.19 | $71,120 | $44,850 | $121,310 | 20,650 | 1.13 | 1.23 |
| 8 | Connecticut profile | $33.66 | $70,010 | $44,710 | $124,370 | 1,450 | 0.86 | 0.93 |
| 9 | Washington profile | $31.50 | $65,530 | $45,070 | $100,190 | 3,600 | 1.01 | 1.10 |
| 10 | Maryland profile | $30.42 | $63,280 | $38,990 | $107,770 | 2,570 | 0.93 | 1.01 |
| 11 | New Hampshire profile | $30.41 | $63,250 | $47,650 | $97,780 | 510 | 0.75 | 0.81 |
| 12 | Colorado profile | $29.83 | $62,050 | $40,140 | $102,710 | 4,650 | 1.62 | 1.76 |
| 13 | Arizona profile | $29.49 | $61,330 | $38,820 | $92,730 | 3,440 | 1.06 | 1.16 |
| 14 | Louisiana profile | $29.40 | $61,150 | $35,460 | $99,910 | 610 | 0.32 | 0.35 |
| 15 | Oregon profile | $29.38 | $61,120 | $42,770 | $84,680 | 2,020 | 1.03 | 1.12 |
| 16 | Virginia profile | $29.29 | $60,930 | $40,140 | $102,280 | 4,230 | 1.03 | 1.12 |
| 17 | Florida profile | $28.97 | $60,270 | $32,930 | $100,470 | 10,480 | 1.06 | 1.15 |
| 18 | Rhode Island profile | $28.80 | $59,910 | $36,400 | $96,140 | 890 | 1.78 | 1.94 |
| 19 | Illinois profile | $28.77 | $59,840 | $35,810 | $104,720 | 5,220 | 0.86 | 0.93 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania profile | $27.96 | $58,170 | $37,730 | $90,380 | 3,940 | 0.65 | 0.71 |
| 21 | Maine profile | $27.84 | $57,900 | $45,760 | $80,410 | 490 | 0.77 | 0.84 |
| 22 | Minnesota profile | $27.75 | $57,710 | $37,680 | $93,730 | 3,160 | 1.07 | 1.17 |
| 23 | Nevada profile | $27.70 | $57,610 | $31,200 | $87,430 | 2,060 | 1.33 | 1.44 |
| 24 | Texas profile | $27.63 | $57,470 | $34,990 | $95,450 | 10,730 | 0.76 | 0.83 |
| 25 | Missouri profile | $27.36 | $56,900 | $31,190 | $83,500 | 2,500 | 0.85 | 0.93 |
| 26 | Wyoming profile | $26.71 | $55,550 | $42,410 | $84,860 | 120 | 0.44 | 0.48 |
| 27 | Alaska profile | $26.44 | $54,990 | $43,580 | $82,720 | 150 | 0.46 | 0.50 |
| 28 | North Carolina profile | $26.44 | $54,990 | $32,670 | $99,420 | 4,340 | 0.88 | 0.96 |
| 29 | Kansas profile | $26.36 | $54,840 | $25,870 | $86,090 | 920 | 0.64 | 0.69 |
| 30 | Utah profile | $26.03 | $54,150 | $32,030 | $90,220 | 1,970 | 1.14 | 1.24 |
| 31 | Wisconsin profile | $25.93 | $53,940 | $35,660 | $88,530 | 2,690 | 0.92 | 1.00 |
| 32 | Arkansas profile | $25.50 | $53,040 | $31,190 | $102,170 | 550 | 0.42 | 0.46 |
| 33 | Michigan profile | $25.37 | $52,780 | $36,580 | $80,640 | 3,560 | 0.81 | 0.88 |
| 34 | Nebraska profile | $25.30 | $52,630 | $43,520 | $76,660 | 610 | 0.60 | 0.65 |
| 35 | Alabama profile | $25.09 | $52,180 | $36,150 | $82,940 | 980 | 0.47 | 0.51 |
| 36 | Tennessee profile | $25.00 | $52,000 | $36,300 | $78,100 | 3,260 | 0.99 | 1.08 |
| 37 | South Carolina profile | $24.92 | $51,830 | $30,770 | $80,790 | 1,240 | 0.54 | 0.58 |
| 38 | Iowa profile | $24.88 | $51,750 | $36,100 | $78,710 | 1,120 | 0.72 | 0.78 |
| 39 | North Dakota profile | $24.86 | $51,700 | $36,300 | $76,760 | 300 | 0.70 | 0.76 |
| 40 | New Mexico profile | $24.43 | $50,820 | $35,550 | $74,970 | 350 | 0.41 | 0.44 |
| 41 | Indiana profile | $24.08 | $50,090 | $34,860 | $82,920 | 2,140 | 0.67 | 0.73 |
| 42 | Ohio profile | $23.99 | $49,900 | $29,910 | $81,640 | 4,750 | 0.86 | 0.93 |
| 43 | Kentucky profile | $23.69 | $49,280 | $31,310 | $80,110 | 1,110 | 0.56 | 0.60 |
| 44 | Georgia profile | $23.68 | $49,250 | $30,100 | $84,530 | 5,050 | 1.03 | 1.12 |
| 45 | Delaware profile | $23.57 | $49,020 | $34,330 | $79,870 | 400 | 0.83 | 0.91 |
| 46 | Montana profile | $23.56 | $49,000 | $35,210 | $75,150 | 350 | 0.69 | 0.75 |
| 47 | Oklahoma profile | $23.55 | $48,990 | $29,620 | $76,240 | 1,440 | 0.85 | 0.92 |
| 48 | South Dakota profile | $22.62 | $47,050 | $36,310 | $66,060 | 340 | 0.75 | 0.81 |
| 49 | Mississippi profile | $21.48 | $44,680 | $27,370 | $73,150 | 360 | 0.31 | 0.34 |
| 50 | West Virginia profile | $17.19 | $35,760 | $28,110 | $63,710 | 300 | 0.43 | 0.47 |
Part of Business and Financial Operations Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 13-1121 Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 13-1121, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 13-1121.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.